Producer Deezle has filed a $3 million lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) over unpaid royalties from Lil Wayne’s album The Carter 3. The album, released 17 years ago, remains one of hip-hop’s most influential works.
Deezle produced ten tracks on The Carter 3, including hits like “Lollipop,” “Mrs. Officer,” and “Let The Beat Build.” According to the lawsuit, Deezle claims he is owed a 4% royalty cut on each song he worked on. He also says he is owed 3% on Birdman’s album Fast Money, on which he collaborated with Lil Wayne.
Deezle has a long history with Lil Wayne, dating back to 2004. Their last collaboration was on Jay Sean’s 2011 hit “Hit The Lights.” The album The Carter 3 was certified 8-times platinum in 2022.
This is not the first legal battle between Deezle and Lil Wayne. In 2011, Deezle sued Lil Wayne, Cash Money Records, and Young Money for unpaid royalties. He began receiving payments from UMG in 2012 but says the payments stopped abruptly without explanation.
Deezle’s lawsuit adds to a growing list of artists suing UMG for unpaid royalties. Recently, artists like Iggy Azalea, Salt-N-Pepa, and Drake have also raised similar claims. Drake’s lawsuit has drawn significant attention in 2025, accusing UMG of supporting a slander campaign to promote Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us.”
